A new tree in Cooperstown honors a longtime community volunteer.
On behalf of the village, Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh on Monday, May 19 dedicated a newly planted crabapple tree in honor of the late Richard M. McCaffery. The tree was planted in front of the Delaware Street home of his wife, Deb McCaffery, who accepted a proclamation from the mayor in front of a crowd.
Three classes of second-graders from Cooperstown Elementary School on Walnut Street, which is within walking distance, came to learn about Arbor Day.
They learned that Arbor Day originated in 1872 in Nebraska. J. Sterling Morton, a journalist, nature enthusiast and senator, proposed a day dedicated to tree planting. The first Arbor Day was held April 10, 1872.
Cooperstown decided to celebrate its Arbor Day on May 19 this year.
Tillapaugh read the proclamation. She said Cooperstown has been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA for more than 40 years.
“Trees increase property values, enhance the environment and economic vitality of business areas and beautify our community,” the proclamation stated.
Speaking of Richard McCaffery, Tillapaugh said, “I never met anyone so fully engaged in community betterment.”
McCaffery served numerous village committees, including the Parks Board, which oversees the village’s six public parks. He joined the board in 1998 and immediately organized the Lakefront Park Concerts, a series of weekly music performances during the summer months, Tillapaugh said.
“These are very popular gatherings for tourists and residents that provide the opportunity to enjoy live music performances in our beautiful public park on the shore of Otsego Lake,” she said.
There will be nine concerts on Tuesday evenings at Lake Park, including one on July 4, Tillapaugh said.
Tillapaugh quizzed the second-graders about the age of the town they call home. Cooperstown was incorporated as a village in 1807. McCaffery worked with village trustees to create an entire year of events to celebrate the village’s bicentennial in 2007.
McCaffery organized “one of the largest and longest parades ever in our Village,” Tillapaugh said. She called him a civic leader and a “worker bee.” “He willingly handled all the small, behind the scenes tasks, like setting up tables and chairs and ensuring trash cans were in place for whatever event was scheduled,” she said.
Other ways he enhanced Cooperstown include creating or administering Earth Festival, the Otsego Lake Festival, recycling initiatives, PumpkinFest and Bike or Walk to Work Day.
While honoring McCaffery, Tillapaugh quoted a friend who said, “Rich was glue.” He brought people together and initiated many projects and activities that benefited others.
During a question-and-answer period one of the second graders asked how old McCaffery was. Tillapaugh responded that he “died last fall in his 70s.” They also wanted to know why he died. Deb McCaffery said, “There is an illness called dementia. That’s what my husband had.”
Deb McCaffery, who worked for The Daily Star for 24 years before retiring last year, said she was pleased the village honored the legacy her husband left and tied it to Arbor Day.
Cynthia Falk, deputy mayor and chair of the Tree Committee, was at the Arbor Day celebration, too, and described the crabapple tree to the audience including the second graders.
Being a Tree City is part of what makes Cooperstown special, Tillapaugh said. The village has 1,800 residents, 3,600 trees and a $33,000 budget for tree planting and maintenance.